On-off clamp for i. v. systems

ABSTRACT

A clamp for control of fluid flow through tubing, such as in intravenous tubing systems, with a base through which the tubing is passed and releasably held in adjacency to a fixed abutment surface on the base, and with a member hingedly connected to the base and provided with a clamping member movable in unison therewith relative to the abutment surface for clamping the adjacent portion of the tubing thereagainst and closing or partially closing the same; there being provided mutually cooperating interlocking arms on the base and hinged member, respectively, for holding the same in predetermined tube clamping positions, and being relatively laterally movable to release the interlocking engagement between the arms to permit separating movement between the base and hinged member with the clamping member moving away from the abutment surface, thus releasing the constriction in the previously clamped tubing.

United States Patent Lacey [54] ON-OFF CLAMP FOR I. V. SYSTEMS [72]Inventor: Robert L. Lacey, Des Plaines, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

' Ill.

22 Filed: Dec.l5, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 98,247

[52] US. Cl ..251/10, 24/129 R, 24/132 HL, 24/134 R, 24/248 SL [51] Int.Cl ..Fl6k 7/06 [58] Field of Search ....251/4, 6, 9, 10; 128/322, 346;24/129 R, 129 D, 132 R, 132 HL,134, 248

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Assistant Examiner-Richard GerardAttorney-Robert W. Beart, Michael Kovac and Jack R. l-lalvorsen [57]ABSTRACT A clamp for control of fluid flow through tubing, such as inintravenous tubing systems, with a base through which the tubing ispassed and releasably held in adjacency to a fixed abutment surface onthe base, and with a member hingedly connected to the base and providedwith a clamping member movable in unison therewith relative to theabutment surface for clamping the adjacent portion of the tubingthereagainst and closing or partially closing the same; there beingprovided mutually cooperating interlocking arms on the base and hingedmember, respectively, for holding the same in predetermined tubeclamping positions, and being relatively laterally movable to releasethe interlocking engagement between the arms to permit separatingmovement between the base and hinged member with the clamping membermoving away from the abutment surface, thus releasing the constrictionin the previously clamped tubing.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBBBI n m 3.698.681

INVENTOR. RaQerf L. Lacey His Aff'ys ON-OFF CLAMP FOR I. V. SYSTEMS Inmany known tube clamping arrangements, there is a squeezing actionbetween intermediate surfaces of connected lever arms and locking meansare provided.

' There are also tube clamping arrangements with wedging surfaces whichare rotatable or slidable into tube constricting positions.

In many of these devices where there is some form of locking means it isoften a simple matter to bring the locking means into operation forclamping the tube in constricted configuration for stopping or meteringthe fluid flow. However, it is often relatively more difficult andtime-consuming to release the locking means and thus release the tubefrom its constricted configuration for free fluid flow or for removingthe clamp from the tubing.

An object of the present invention is'to provide a tube clamp with meansfacilitating assembly and releasable retention between the clamp and thetubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube clamp enabling onehand, and even two finger operation thereof for clamping and releasingthe tubing, thus providing rapid operation thereof with minimum movementof the tubing for comfort of the donor or recipient body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube clamp whereintube constriction is accomplished by simple squeezing together ofrelatively hinged members with interengaging shoulder means for holdingthe same together, and wherein release of the tube constriction isaccomplished by simple relative lateral movement between the hingedmembers for release of the interengaged shoulder means.

To the above ends, the clamp includes a base with a fixed abutmentsurface across which the tube is releasably mounted for constrictionthereagainst by a clamping edge movable with a member hinged to thebase. The base and hinged member are provided with mutuallyinterengageable shoulder means for holding the same in tube constrictingpositions and with finger grip means to effect relative lateral movementbetween the base and hinged member for releasing the interengagedshoulder means.

For a more detailed understanding of the above and other objects of theinvention and the brief description thereof, reference is made to theaccompanying drawin g and the more detailed description thereof inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tubing clamp with the base andhinged member in normally separated position;

FIG. 2 is a slightly reduced side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows 3-3;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 2 with the tubing in initiallyassembled position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the tubing shown inconstricted position as the base and hinged member are brought together;and

FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6 showing relative lateral displacementbetween the base and hinged member to disengage the interlockingtherebetween and permit release of the tubing from its constrictedcondition.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawing, the clampincludes a base portion 10 having a central portion 12 of increasedthickness for reinforcement and terminating in a transverse portion 14or similar thickness across the rear edge thereof and in a transverseportion 16 of similar thickness across the front edge thereof with ribportions 16a for finger purchase. At the rear edge of the base there isan upstanding wall 18 presenting an inner abutment surface 20 and havinga diagonal thicker portion 22 across the outer surface thereof forreinforcement. The upper edge of the upstanding wall 18 terminates in aninwardly extending ledge 24 opening to one side of the base from aninner aperture 26 through an outer wider recess 28 partially separatedtherefrom along the upstanding wall 20 by an inward vertical shoulder30. An inward vertical shoulder 31 is disposed at the outer corner edgeof the wider recess opposite to the wall surface 20. A similar reverselyoriented recess arrangement is provided in the base opening at theopposite edge thereof. With reference to FIG. 5, this recess arrangementincludes an outwardly opening relative wide recess 32 with a verticalcorner shoulder 34 and communicating with a narrower inner aperture 36.A vertical shoulder 38 onthe wall surface 20 reduces the entrance to theinner recess 36 which is in vertical alignment with the upper innerrecess 26. The .tubing may extend through these aligned recesses in themanner to be hereinafter described.

The forward portion of the base 10 is provided with a corner post 40with vertical ribs 40a for finger purchase. lnwardly of the front edgeof the base, there is provided another vertical post or arm 42 spacedslightly inwardly from the opposite side of the base and reinforced by avertical inclined strut portion 44. The inner upper end portion of thepost 42 is provided with inwardly extending spaced ledges 46, 48 (two innumber which may be varied) presently downwardly facing shouldersurfaces 46a, 48a, respectively, with the upper shoulder surface 46a,inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the wall surface 20 for apurpose to be pointed out hereinafter. A flexible hinge leaf 50 ofplastic or-similar material is attached along the inner upper edge ofthe ledge 24 with inherent memory characteristics to tend toward theupwardly curved position thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A hinged top member 52 has the inner edge thereof suitably attached tothe hinge leaf 52 to normally assume the open position of FIGS. 1 and 2.The under surface of the member 52 is provided with a centralreinforcing rib 54 which extends rearwardly and merges into a rearwardlyand downwardly inclined clamping or lever arm 56 integral with thehinged member 52 and movable in unison therewith. The free transverseedge 56a of the arm 56 is transversely substantially coextensive withthe width of the abutment surface 20 and is located in adjacencythereto. The front free edge of the hinged member 52 is provided with adepending corner post 58 opposite to the base post 40 and may also beexternally ribbed for finger purchase to merge with ribs 59 across theadjacent end 42 in holding the hinge member 52 to the base in positionssuch as that shown in FIG. 6.

In assembling the tubing 70 and clamp, and referring to FIG. 1, thetubing may be passed diagonally across the abutment surface 20 toinitially lie in the wider recesses 28 and 32. This can be accomplishedby threading the tubing through these recesses, or by passing the sameinwardly from the open end of the clamp and beneath the clamping edge56a of the lever arm 56. When so positioned, the surface portions of thetubing toward the open ends of the recesses 28, 32 are squeezed towardthe smaller recesses 26, 36, or these surface portions are held byfingers of one hand and the entire clamp rotatedin a clockwise directionby the other hand either operation resulting in the tubing being urgedpast the shoulders 30, 38 into the inner recesses 26, 36, respectively,in which position the tubing will be trapped in assembly with the clampbut the tubing may be removed by substantially reverse manipulativeoperations. With the tubing 70. extending through the aligned recesses26, 36 and traversing the abutment surface 20, as seen in FIG. 2, anoperator may employ the fingers of one hand, for example the thumb andindex finger, engaging the transverse ribbed portion 16a, 59 on the baseand hinged member, respectively, to squeeze the same together so thatthe hinged member 52 will assume the position of FIG. 6 with theclamping edge 56a of the arm 56 closing the tube against the abutmentsurface 20 to close off fluid flow therethrough. In this position, theledge 64 on the arm 60 will have been urged past the ledges 46, 48 onthe arm 42 by the relative resiliency afforded by the hinge leaf 50 andthe shoulder surface 64a will snap beneath the shoulder surface 48:: forinterlocking engagement therewith to hold the parts in the position ofFIG. 6, or an intermediate position with the shoulder surface 64aengaged beneath the shoulder surface 460 which is inclined, as indicatedabove, to provide for complete surface contact with the surface of theshoulder 64a as the hinged member 52 assumes a slightly inclinedposition relative to the base. In such inclined position, the clampingedge 56a will withdraw slightly from the tubing reducing theconstriction thereof and permit reduced flow of fluid therethrough, thatis, reduced flow as compared with full flow when the clamping edge is inthe position of FIG. 2. Or, alternatively, if a slightly larger sizetubing is employed, such tubing might be completely closed when theshoulder surfaces 64a and 46a are in engagement. As a furtherpossibility, a larger size of tubing could be located in the outerrecesses 28 and 32 and releasably trapped therein by the shoulders 31,34, respectively, and in this case, the tubing will extend diagonallyacross the abutment surface between the outer recesses for constrictionthereof by the clamping edge 56a.

To release any constriction of tubing by releasing any interlockingengagement betweenthe shoulder surface 64a and either shoulder surface46a or 48a, reference is made to FIG. 7. The operator may employ twofingers of one hand, for example the thumb and index finger, torespectively engage the ribbed surfaces of the posts 58, 40 andsqueezethe same together to cause offsetting thereof as permitted by theresiliency of the hinge leaf 50. This will effect lateral separation ofthe arms 60 and 42, as shown in FIG. 7, to effect disengagement of theshoulder surface 64a from either of the shoulder surfaces 46a, 48a; Theinherent memory of the resilient hinge leaf will tend to move the hingemember 52 outwardly to the position of FIGS. 1 and 2. Release of thefinger grip on the posts 58, 40 will permit the inherent resiliency ofthe hinge leaf 50 to return the hinge member to its initial lateralposition with the shoulder arms 60, 42 again in proper relative lappedorientation. to permit engagement between the respective shouldersurfaces when the hinge member is again pressed toward the base foreffecting control of fluid flow through the tubing by relativepositioning of the clamping edge 56a with respect thereto. The posts 58,40 will limit excessive inward movement of the hinged member 52 relativeto the base when in normal lateral positions. The hinged member and basemay be molded from suitable plastic materials and joined by adhesive orheat sealing of the hinge leaf 50 to the ledge 24 and the adjacent edgeof the hinged member 52.

lclaim: p

1. A generally U-shaped clamp for controlling fluid flow through aflexible tube, and comprising a base member forming one leg of the U, afixed upstanding wall forming the base of the U and acting as anabutment surface adjacent the rear edge of said base member and aperturemeans through which the tube is passed for location along said abutmentsurface, a top member overlying in flexible hinged relation to the basemember, said top member forming the other leg of the U integrallyattached adjacent the upper opposite edge of said wall abutment surfaceand having an integral clamp arm movable therewith and extending ininclined relation, downwardly and rearwardly toward said abutmentsurface and terminating in a clamping edge proximate to and traversingthe tube location along said abutment surface, and adjacently positionedlocking arms respectively on said base member and said top member witheach of said arms having cooperating shoulder means mutuallyinterengaged when the locking arms are lapped with one another uponmovement of the top member toward the base member for holding theclamping edge in tube constricting position against the abutment surfaceand releasable from mutual interengagement upon relative lateralseparating movement between said locking arms permitting separatingmovement between the base member and top member to remove the clampingedge base members for permissive re-engagement between the shouldermeans when the top and base members are again pressed together.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top and base members areprovided with finger gripping portions adjacent the front edges thereofin general opposition to one another for inward pressure thereon toseparate the shoulder means with relative lateral movement of the topand base members out of the predetermined orientation therebetweenwhereby to permit the top and base members to return to normal separatedand laterally oriented positions.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein the finger gripping portionsare in the form of corner posts on the top and base membersrespectively.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoulder means on the basemember locking arm comprises at least two downwardly facing andvertically spaced shoulder surfaces for cooperation with a single Iupwardly facing shoulder surface on the top member locking arm forholding said clamping edge in relatively adjustable tube constrictingposition, at least the upper shoulder surface on the base member lockingarm being inclined downwardly toward the abutment surface to providemutually coextensive surface engagement with the shoulder surface on thetop member locking arm when engaged therewith when said top member islocked in a non-parallel relation to said base member.

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall at therear end of the base member has an inwardly extending ledge in generallyparallel opposition tothe base member to which the top member ishingedly connected, and wherein the base member and ledge are providedwith centrally disposed vertically aligned apertures for receiving thetubing for its location along the abutment surface, each of the alignedapertures laterally communicates with the edge of the ledge and basemember, respectively, to facilitate assembly and removal therethrough ofthe tubing relative to the clamp.

7. A clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein vertical shoulder means areprovided between each aperture and an enlarged recess located betweenthe aperture and the edge of said ledge and base member, respectively toreleasably trap the tubing in assembly with the clamp.

1. A generally U-shaped clamp for controlling fluid flow through aflexible tube, and comprising a base member forming one leg of the U, afixed upstanding wall forming the base of the U and acting as anabutment surface adjacent the rear edge of said base member and aperturemeans through which the tube is passed for location along said abutmentsurface, a top member overlying in flexible hinged relation to the basemember, said top member forming the other leg of the U integrallyattached adjacent the upper opposite edge of said wall abutment surfaceand having an integral clamp arm movable therewith and extending ininclined relation, downwardly and rearwardly toward said abutmentsurface and terminating in a clamping edge proximate to and traversingthe tube location along said abutment surface, and adjacently positionedlocking arms respectively on said base member and said top member witheach of said arms having cooperating shoulder means mutuallyinterengaged when the locking arms are lapped with one another uponmovement of the top member toward the base member for holding theclamping edge in tube constricting position against the abutment surfaceand releasable from mutual interengagement upon relative lateralseparating movement between said locking arms permitting separatingmovement between the base member and top member to remove the clampingedge from tube constricting position.
 2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1,wherein the top member has a resilient hinge connection disposed betweenitself and said fixed wall whereby the top and base members tend tonormally separate from one another upon release of the interengagementbetween the shoulder means and said hinge maintains a predeterminedlateral orientation between the top and base members for permissivere-engagement between the shoulder means when the top and base membersare again pressed together.
 3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe top and base members are provided with finger gripping portionsadjacent the front edges thereof in general opposition to one anotherfor inward pressure thereon to separate the shoulder means with relativelateral movement of the top and base members out of the predeterminedorientation therebetween whereby to permit the top and base members toreturn to normal separated and laterally oriented positions.
 4. A clampas claimed in claim 3, wherein the finger gripping portions are in theform of corner posts on the top and base members respectively.
 5. Aclamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoulder means on the basemember locking arm comprises at least two downwardly facing andvertically spaced shoulder surfaces for cooperation with a singleupwardly facing shoulder surface on the top member locking arm forholding said clamping edge in relatively adjustable tube constrictingposition, at least the upper shoulder surface on the base member lockingarm being inclined downwardly toward the abutment surface to providemutually coextensive surface engagement with the shoulder surface on thetop member locking arm when engaged therewith when said top member islocked in a non-parallel relation to said base member.
 6. A clamp asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the upstanding wall at the rear end of thebase member has an inwardly extending ledge in generally parallelopposition to the base member to which the top member is hingedlyconnected, and wherein the base member and ledge are provided withcentrally disposed vertically aligned apertures for receiving the tubingfor its location along the abutment surface, each of the alignedapertures laterally communicates with the edge of the ledge and basemember, respectively, to facilitate assembly and removal therethrough ofthe tubing relative to the clamp.
 7. A clamp as claimed in claim 6,wherein vertical shoulder means are provided between each aperture andan enlarged recess located between the aperture and the edge of saidledge and base member, respectively to releasably trap the tubing inassembly with the clamp.